Former Patients

On February 28, 2017, a sub-adult green sea turtle was found along the shoreline in Captiva, Lee County, FL. The turtle had a large wound on its carapace (shell) and had many small fibropapilloma tumors on its body.

On January 28, a juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was found floating nearshore in Sand Key, Pinellas County, Florida. The turtle was buoyant, and having a difficult time swimming or diving below the surface. The turtle was picked up by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and transferred to volunteers who brought the turtle to Clearwater Marine Aquarium for triage.

On January 10, 2017, a small juvenile green turtle was found floating along the shore of the Chassahowitzka River in Citrus County, Florida. The turtle was brought to CMA by the FWC, and the turtle was triaged. A CT scan indicated the turtle had moderate ingesta in its gastrointestinal tract, and gas

Theodore was one of the 3 loggerheads, along with Alvin and Simon. Upon admission to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Theodore was triaged and treated for cold-stun, given vitamins, antibiotic injections, hydration fluids, and cold laser therapy to treat a healing wound to the top of the head.

Upon admission to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Simon was triaged and treated for cold-stun, given vitamins, antibiotic injections, and hydration fluids. Although we can’t prevent cold stunning from occurring, we can keep our eyes out on the shorelines during cold weather for any turtles acting lethargically.

In early December 2016, a mass cold stun event occurred off the coast of Massachusetts, and many loggerhead and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles were rescued by the New England Aquarium. Clearwater Marine Aquarium offered to help New England Aquarium care for the turtles if they ran out of space. So, 3 loggerhead turtles were flown down to Florida via private jet. Alvin was one of the 3 loggerheads.

Gran Torino is a juvenile green sea turtle that was found on February 17th, 2016 right off the Dunedin Causeway in Florida. Multiple small fibropapilloma tumors were found on his eyes, plastron, neck and base of flippers. Additionally, Gran Torino’s left eye was missing.

Gryffindor is a juvenile green sea turtle that was accidentally hooked by a fisherman at John’s Pass, FL on March 16th, 2016. Gryffindor was found to have numerous small to medium external fibropapilloma tumors.

Vanilla Wafer is a juvenile green sea turtle that was found on January 24th, 2016 in Clearwater Beach, FL with three severe boat strike wounds on its carapace. These wounds left internal tissue, including the spinal cord, exposed.

(In a galaxy far, far away…) Han Solo is a juvenile green sea turtle that was found on February 17, 2016 in St. Petersburg, FL. Han Solo was found with a portion of its back carapace along with his tail and cloaca missing.